Positive parenting strategies, such as commendation, observation, and support of children’s actions, could potentially mitigate the accelerated biological aging observed in children facing adverse circumstances, as per a research study backed by the National Institutes of Health. The research suggests that educating parents on adopting more positive parenting techniques might offset the repercussions of children’s adversities, consequently enhancing their long-term physical and psychological well-being. The investigation, led by Alexandra D.W. Sullivan, Ph.D., from the University of Vermont alongside her colleagues, is published in Psychological Science.
Funding from the NIH was facilitated by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities.
Context
Childhood adversities, such as poverty and abuse, elevate the likelihood of future health issues, both physical and psychological. The body’s response to such stress is associated with a hastened biological aging process, where the cellular age surpasses the chronological age. Epigenetic aging, a method used by researchers to gauge biological age, involves the examination of DNA present in biological specimens like saliva. Methyl groups attach to DNA, regulating gene activation or deactivation, akin to a light switch. Machine learning algorithms have been employed to demonstrate that methylation patterns mirror biological age. When biological age outpaces chronological age, it indicates accelerated epigenetic aging.
A prior study indicated that children of parents reporting depression, engaging in a family-centered intervention, were linked to reduced epigenetic age acceleration. The researchers attributed this outcome to the intervention, which mitigated severe parenting behaviors within families affected by parental depression.
Findings
The study evaluated 62 children from a previous research project aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a 20-week telehealth-based parenting initiative for addressing behavioral issues. The researchers postulated that an upsurge in positive parenting actions in the intervention group would decelerate epigenetic aging in the face of adversities like poverty, environmental hazards, inadequate schooling, and parental mental health challenges.
Roughly half of the families received the intervention, while the remaining half were referred to local service providers. The program focused on instructing parents on positive practices, such as endorsing and motivating their children while avoiding negative behaviors like shouting or severe criticism. Regular evaluations of parent-child interactions were carried out in the households. The children belonged to Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian families with modest incomes.
The results revealed that children exposed to more adversity exhibited reduced epigenetic aging when their parents embraced positive parenting strategies and minimized negative behaviors. Conversely, children with parents displaying negative behaviors demonstrated accelerated epigenetic aging.
Implications
The outcomes strongly indicate that positive parenting techniques could counteract the impact of epigenetic aging induced by childhood adversities.
Future Directions
The researchers advocate for a broader study to validate the efficacy of positive parenting in mitigating epigenetic aging among young children facing adversities.
Reference
Sullivan ADW, et al. Parenting practices may buffer the impact of adversity on epigenetic age acceleration among young children with developmental delays. Psychological Science. 2023.